A young woman has sparked outrage in Patek West Village, Zombo District, after allegedly dumping her newborn baby into a pit latrine shortly after giving birth.

The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, 18 November 2024, in Mundel Parish, Nyapea Sub-County.

The woman, identified only as Kwiocwiny and believed to be in her 20s, was living at her father’s home in the village.

According to local leaders, she gave birth late on Sunday night before disposing of the infant in the family’s pit latrine.

Grim Discovery

The lifeless body of the baby girl was retrieved on Monday morning by local leaders and community members after Kwiocwiny reportedly admitted to her actions.

Concerns arose when neighbours noticed the woman no longer appeared pregnant. Upon being confronted, she revealed the horrifying details, prompting the community to dismantle the latrine to recover the baby’s body.

Francis Oryema, the Local Council Chairperson (LC1) of Patek West, confirmed the incident.

“We woke up to shocking news today. Kwiocwiny, a resident of this village, gave birth to a baby girl and later dumped the child in the latrine. After pressure from the community, she confessed, and we found the baby’s body inside the pit latrine,” Oryema said.

Eyewitnesses at the scene described the harrowing sight of the baby, with the placenta and umbilical cord still attached, lying deep in the latrine.

No Apparent Mental Illness

Oryema stated that the woman showed no signs of mental illness and did not provide any explanation for her actions. The baby’s body was retrieved and handed over to the family, pending further investigations.

Eliot Odongo, the Nyapea Sub-County Council Speaker and councillor for Mundel Parish condemned the act as “heartbreaking and deeply unfortunate.” He urged families to seek constructive ways to resolve disputes rather than resorting to actions that harm innocent children.

“This incident highlights the need for awareness and intervention in family misunderstandings. Punishing innocent children is not the answer,” Odongo said.

The incident has reignited concerns about the increasing cases of child neglect in the region. Earlier this year, another woman in Mundel Parish abandoned her baby in a nearby bush. The child was found alive the following morning after community members pressed the mother to reveal the baby’s whereabouts.

Stakeholders attribute these alarming acts to factors such as family disputes, a lack of parental responsibility, entrenched cultural beliefs, and gender-based violence.

Police Yet to Act

By the time of reporting, police had not yet visited the scene. Community members and local leaders called for swift action to ensure justice is served and to address the underlying issues contributing to such tragedies.